| Has origin
|
It was founded in 1983 as Control Video Co … It was founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation. It later changed its name. In 1991 it released AOL for [[DOS]], and in 1992 it released AOL for [[Windows]]. AOL established an internet market aimed towards Joe Everyman and Jane Everywoman. AOL had (then) exclusive content available under AOL keywords.
AOL was one of the first companies to introduce [[internet]] access for the masses (outside). In 1993 AOL introduced access to [[Usenet]]. Originally newbies joined ''en masse'' in Septembers (corresponding to when people enrolled in universities), acted like [[n00bs]], got slapped across the face, stopped being [[lamer]]s, and wizened up. Now with AOL, newbies joined at any time of the year, causing old timers on Usenet to speak of the "[[Eternal September]]."
AOL became known for its AOL disks, sent in the mail to prospective customers. Unlike many ISPs, which simply provided a telephone number for you to use with your [[dialup]], AOL provided an entire software package for internet use. People who didn't want to use AOL proceeded to make the disks into fine coasters. Also because of AOL's dynamic [[IP addresses]], users could join chatrooms, act like [[lamer]]s, get banned under one IP, and rejoin under another. Chatroom moderators had to block all AOL ips, causing innocent parties to be blocked.
AOL got involved with a horrid merger involving Time Warner, and later asked for a divorce. Its AOL-exclusive content ended up not being so exclusive anymore, and AOL was slow to join the [[broadband]] party. As AOL scooped up [[Netscape]], users jumped ship and joined other ISPs ([[AT&T]], [[Verizon]], etc.) her ISPs ([[AT&T]], [[Verizon]], etc.)
|
